Tang calls for 'truly democratic' poll in 2017 - but won't say if he'll run
Former chief secretary urges rival C.Y. Leung to try to win back trust in his maiden speech and ensure a 'truly democratic' chief executive race
Failed chief executive candidate Henry Tang Ying-yen remains tight-lipped about his political future, but does not rule out the possibility of another run at the top job in four years under what he hopes will be "genuine" universal suffrage.
Tang and another former chief secretary, Anson Chan Fang On-sang, separately urged winner Leung Chun-ying yesterday to try to regain people's trust by setting out a blueprint for democratisation and better living in his maiden policy address.
Speaking on a radio programme, Tang said many friends had told him his defeat in last year's chief executive election was a blessing in disguise.
He also said his father wanted him to spend more time handling the family's textile business, which he had been neglecting.
Explaining his low profile since his defeat 10 months ago, he said he had been doing some travelling, including a recent trip with his family to Antarctica.
"Over the past nine years in the government, there were many places that I wanted to travel to, but did not have the chance," he said.
He said he had been working with the Buildings Department in its investigation into unauthorised structures at his home and would consider his political future once this was finished.